April 2020 Hong Kong Festivals and Events

This month normally features the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, the territory's premier sporting event and mega-party, but this year it has been postponed to October. But there is still a full array of colorful festivities and traditions... including fantastic parades, carnivals and celebrations throughout Hong Kong.

We start off with the Ching Ming Festival on April 4, 2020 which gives you a unique look into Hong Kong's ancient traditions, and soon thereafter in total contrast, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair is a window into Hong Kong's innovation powerhouse.

Then a barrage of colorful festivals awaits... the Birthday of Tin Hau comes next with temple celebrations, parades and Fa Pau Float galore kicking off the season of cultural celebrations in the city including:

• Buddha bathing ceremonies...
• Lively parades to celebrate the Birthday of Tam Kung, the Seafarer's God
• The one-of-a-kind bun-scrambling contest at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival (2020 festival cancelled)

This is a great month to be in Hong Kong!

In the cultural and entertainment front, the Hong Kong Film Festival comes to a close, the Hong Kong Film Awards, the Oscars of Hong Kong which normally takes place in April will be releasing the dates and format of the Awards ceremony soon, stay tuned!

Also note that Easter holidays are public holidays observed in Hong Kong, this year will be from April 10 - 13, 2020. Easter Sunday is on April 12, 2020.

April temperatures in Hong Kong are still pleasant but begin to climb. Overcast days are the norm, with some showers but usually not more than a drizzle. It's still time to get outdoors before the humidity and stormy days start to mount towards the summer days.

Highlight Celebrations and Events in April 2020

• Ching Ming Festival - April 4, 2020
• Hong Kong Sevens - April 3 - 5, 2020 - Postponed to October 16 - 18, 2020
• Cirque du Soleil Amaluna - April 2 - 26, 2020 - Cancelled
• Easter - April 10 - 13, 2020
• Hong Kong Film Festival - March 24 - April 6, 2020 - Postponed to Summer 2020
• Hong Kong Electronics Fair - April 13 - 16, 2020 - Postponed to July 25 - 28, 2020
• Birthday of Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea - April 15, 2020
• Cheung Chau Bun Festival - April 27 - May 1, 2020 - Cancelled
• Birthday of Buddha Celebrations - April 30, 2020
• Birthday of Tam Kung, the Seafarer's God - April 30, 2020
• Disney Springtime Carnival - TBC
• The Hong Kong Film Awards - TBA

Ongoing Events This April 2020

• Free cultural exhibitions: Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Feng Shui
• The Symphony of Lights, Hong Kong's light and sound show
• It's race time! The Horse Races at Happy Valley are on!

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Ching Ming Festival: A Day To Honor The Ancestors - April 4, 2020

The Ching Ming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day is a day to worship the ancestors.

Cemeteries accross the land will be crowded with thousands of worshipers carrying incense sticks and offerings of paper money, fruits and wine, as they come to pay respects to their ancestors.

Tombs are tended and swept and paper money and all other paper offerings are burned so that the deceased "receive" the essence of the burned goods.

Special attention must be paid if you will be travelling through any areas where there are cemeteries or burial grounds, specially if using public transportation as the crowds will be quite substantial and delays are guaranteed.

Hong Kong Rugby Sevens - Postponed to October 16 - 18, 2020

The Hong Kong Sevens is rugby's most prestigious sevens tournament on the International Rugby Board World Series and considered the top event in Hong Kong's Sports calendar.

In three days, 24 teams battle it up at the Hong Kong Stadium for points toward the World Series top ranking.

Tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale, but the event goes beyond the stadium, to say this is one colossal party is an understatement...

Where? Tournament held at Hong Kong Stadium, plus outside giant screens and party tents at the Central Promenade, more partying at Lan Kwai Fong, Soho and Wanchai.

Tickets: HK$ 530+ Likely to sell out quickly Find Hong Kong Sevens Tickets.

Cirque du Soleil Amaluna - Cancelled

When? April 2 - 26, 2020
Where? Central Harbourfront Event Space
How Much? HK$ 450 - HK$1,999 +

Hong Kong International Film Festival - Postponed to Summer 2020

The Hong Kong International Film Festival is one of Hong Kong's largest cultural events, and as all film festivals, this is an event for those involved in the film industry, actors, directors, screenwriters, etc. and film enthusiasts and fans from all over the world.

Although this is not Cannes or Sundance or Toronto, the Hong Kong Film Festival is considered a major launching pad for films from all parts of the world into the China and Asian markets. Some big names in the Asian cinematic scene make an appearance to promote their latest works.

It is easy to catch a screening and ticket prices are quite reasonable, if only to see some of Hong Kong's magnificent venues from the inside!

When? March 24 - April 6, 2020
Where? Several venues including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong City Hall, the Hong Kong Science Museum among others.
How Much? HK$ 55+

Easter

Easter in Hong Kong, as part of the British legacy, is a public holiday with a long weekend of days off from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

For 2020, the Easter holidays will be from Friday April 10 to Monday April 13, 2020.

From uplifiting services, easter egg hunts, champagne brunches...

The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) - Postponed to July 25 - 28, 2020

Organised by the HKTDC, this is Asia's largest Electronics Fair where innovative products are launched and where thousands of exhibitors and brands are represented.

The exhibitions are spread out into zones for easy navigation i.e. Home Appliances, Electronic Gaming, Solar Technology, Personal Electronics, etc.

There is also a "Small Order Zone" where hundreds of products and samples are available in small quantities.
When?: April 13 - 16, 2020
Where?: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Admission: HK100 but free if you pre-register at the HKTDC website. Open to trade visitors, must be over 18 years old.

Birthday of Tin Hau - April 15, 2020

Tin Hau is the Goddess of the Sea, given that in the past Hong Kong was a fishing town and most everybody's lives were tied to the sea, Tin Hau is sort of the "patron saint" of the city and you can imagine that the Tin Hau Festival is a really big deal.

There will be colorful and lively celebrations including the unique fa pau floats unique to the celebration, dragon parades, lion dances and feasts... anywhere there is a Tin Hau temple nearby, and there are over 60 in Hong Kong!

Some of the most vibrant and notorious celebrations are in Yuen Long in the New Territories and Joss House Bay in Saikung, which boasts the oldest Tin Hau Temple in Hong Kong. Also the coastal towns will be celebrating: Stanley, Lamma Island, Peng Chau and Cheng Chau as well.

The 2020 Tin Hau Processions in Yuen Long have been cancelled due to the current health precautions.

The Cheung Chau Bun Festival - 2020 Cancelled

A very colorful and unique festival in the island of Cheung Chau, just a short ferry ride away.

The Cheung Chau Bun Festival has been celebrated for hundreds of years and is dedicated to the god Pak Tai, in thanks for protecting the island and to drive away the evil spirits.

One trademark of the festival is the huge bamboo mountains covered with handmade buns which are set up near the Pak Tai Temple where the majority of the celebrations take place.

There are the parades, lion dances, the many rituals and of course lots of drumming! This is a very lively event, not to be missed if you are in Hong Kong during this period.

When? This is a week-long celebration from April 27 into the early hours of May 1, 2020

Getting to Cheung Chau: 40 or 60 minutes with ferries from Central Pier #5 approx. every 30 minutes. The fast ferry is an enclosed cabin, the standard or slow one is a much more scenic way to get there on the outside decks.

The Birthday of Lord Buddha - April 30, 2020

A celebration that will be observed at most monasteries, shrines and buddhist temples in Hong Kong to commemorate the birth of Buddha as worshippers and followers flock to the temples to pay their respects.

The "Bathing of the Buddha" Ceremony is performed as part of the festivities.

One of the biggest celebrations is at the Hong Kong Big Buddha in Lantau and the nearby Po Lin Monastery.

The Birthday of Tam Kung - April 30, 2020

Tam Kung, together with Tin Hau, is considered the protector of the fishermen and the seas, and so there is also a festival in his honor, on the eight day of the fourth moon, this year on the Western calendar it will be celebrated on May 22, 2018.

The festivities take place by the Tam Kung Temple in Hong Kong Island and involve a large parade with the colorful dragon and lion dances, lots of drumming, acrobats and performers accompanying the floats and the procession.

When?: April 30, 2020 - Parade from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm

How to get there?: The Tam Kung Temple in Shau Kei Wan can be easily reached with the MTR: MTR Shau Kei Wan Station Exit D1, about a 5 minute walk to Tam Kung Temple Road, just follow the crowds.

The 39th Hong Kong Film Award Ceremony

On its 39th year, the Annual Hong Kong Film Award Ceremony is the Oscars of Hong Kong.

Like the Academy Awards, it recognizes achievements in filmmaking and is open to Hong Kong Films longer than one hour that were released in Hong Kong within the previous calendar year.

It is a star-studded affair with prominent local celebrities that make an appearance at this most prestigious red carpet event.

When? TBA
Where? TBC - Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Disney Springtime Carnivale of Stars and Egg-stravaganza

Starting in March, Mickey, Minnie and the gang dress up in their springtime celebratory outfits. Look forward to new lively shows and events on Main Street with all our favourite Disney friends old and new!

Springtime and Easter activities TBA. Stay tuned!

When? March through May
Where? Hong Kong Disneyland
How Much? Disney Springtime Celebration activities are free with Park Admission.

Remember you can buy discount tickets online at Klook.com:
HK Disneyland Discount Tickets Adult HK639 HKD590, Children HK487 HKD438
More Info and Booking at Klook.com
Also available are exclusive experience for World of Frozen and Arandelle Royal Breakfast Buffet

Dining Offers at Hong Kong Disneyland

Ongoing Hong Kong Events

These are some popular ongoing events that are worth checking out, specially since they are FREE or offered for a low fee!

These events feature some of the great and ancient traditions of the territory and are offered by experts in their corresponding fields:

The Symphony of Lights

The Symphony of Lights is Hong Kong's light and sound show, a tribute to the city and its people, their diversity, energy and vitality.

The stage is the entire city, which is what makes it so unique, you can watch the lights from just about anywhere in the waterfront. This free show offered by the city, takes place every night at 8:00 pm and lasts about 12 minutes.

When?: Every Night
Where?: Can be seen from both sides of Victoria Harbour, specially stunning aboard a Harbour Cruise.
How Much? Free

The Horse Races Are On! This is how you can attend

The horse races in Hong Kong whether or not you are a horse racing enthusiast is an experience not to be missed!

The beautiful horses, the skillful jockeys, the crowds going wild, they all add up to an exciting, fun-filled, thrilling atmosphere in two world-class venues, at the Sha Tin Racecourse and the iconic Happy Valley Racecourse.

The Happy Valley race course itself is a sight in itself, the city has built around it through the years and it is now practically surrounded by skyscrapers, an awesome experience specially at night when the city is illuminated.

When?: Happy Valley Night Races on Wednesday Nights. On race day, first race starts at 7:15 p.m. and the gates open at 5:15 p.m. The races are done by 11:00 p.m.
Sha Tin Day Races are on Sundays. First race normally starts at 1:00 pm, earlier if there are more than 10 races. Gates open at 11:00 am.
All races will be streamed live at the HK Jockey Club Racing Channel.
How Much? There are many ways to experience the races, from General Stand to Private Boxes and special packages including dinner and drinks. General Stand entrance starts at HK10. You can join this guided experience and learn all about horse racing and betting, Enjoy the HKJC horse races from the 2M roof deck.

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